Simplifying Life - Mark II

JulieGeorgiana

I find making lists and sticking to them is the best.

I have lists for money, food, housework, Christmas, birthdays (I even know how many stamps I will need) I try and budget for everything!

This causes stress in itself. But I find the stress of doing the lists and far easier then 'forgetting' to do something later!

nattyt

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

I find making lists and sticking to them is the best.

I have lists for money, food, housework, Christmas, birthdays (I even know how many stamps I will need) I try and budget for everything!

This causes stress in itself. But I find the stress of doing the lists and far easier then 'forgetting' to do something later!

I am a list maker too and it definitely helps except when you never actually cross any thing off!!:rotfl:

JulieGeorgiana

nattyt wrote: »

I am a list maker too and it definitely helps except when you never actually cross any thing off!!:rotfl:

No I do... but I add to the end faster

Truth is I find it hard to cope the shear quantity of Christmas presents I have to cope with, especially as they are hand made. I set time limits... like tonight I had to make 3 gifts... as the deadline looms I feel like I HAVE to do it!

**Is starting to wonder if this is why people are saying in anal**

Anyway, I have a cook spreadsheet which means I know that x is ** old, on ** date and is getting ** for their birthday and ** for Christmas and they will need a birthday card, and Christmas card and that's two stamps....

I did this in stages... now I filter by month and it tells me mum and BIL and a friends daughter have birthdays in January and I need 2 female HM Cards and 1 male HM card. BUT only mum and BIL need gifts, but the friends daughter is 16 so it needs to be a great card!

Seems complicated, but using the filters I find my life is simpler because I used to have to remember ALL that information!

Oh and it means I know I need 62 English stamps, 28 Europe stamps and 3 Canada Stamps!

Sorry to go one... but that means I can budget for gifts and Stamps and card and other 'stock'!

I find this such a help when you have so much to worry about, and after 2 hours the computer does my worrying for me

ceridwen

Hi

there is indeed a thread on "Simplifying Life" - which is in two installments (as it was pretty long-running):

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/643755

and its successor thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1157609

or, failing that, check on my "name" for threads I have started - as I was the one that started it. It comes up at the end of page 1 of threads I started.

nattyt

Cor u r organised but i like it!!! x

Quenastoise

List maker over here as well :wave:

I have downloaded the Lister app on my Blackberry and I have various lists on the go like:

- what needs doing in the house
- what I need to do for me
- holiday packing checklist
- Xmas checklist

Having the list on my phone means that I can write down what occurs to me as needing to be done

It's better in my experience to have the checklists in the background than actually trying to schedule the task in the calendar - I know that I'm not likely to be able to take the cat to the vet in December but there is a reminder in the system that it needs to be done.

Another add is "Our groceries" so I log the items we need as they occur to me and I'm never without my shopping list

What has a reasonable chance of getting done gets scheduled in the diary of the day

Finally, I use the "memo" function in the phone to log things that I would otherwise write in a notebook eg a friend mentioned "blanket stitching" that I need to Google later

JulieGeorgiana

nattyt wrote: »

Cor u r organised but i like it!!! x

I am always happy to share!

I have spreadsheets for a lot... but I LOVE my new one

Like I said 2 hours of work, and now I have a template to use year after year... and I am so much happier!

PM me if you want me to email you a copy, I honestly don't mind if it would help. Might be a bit daunting though, most likely best to do your own, you way!

undercoverblonde

yelf wrote: »

Make a big cook up and freeze meal size portions like you have already mentioned. Also havea pen and paper by the bed to write down thoughts that keep my brain buzzing at night.

Good tip! My head does overtime at night, writing stuff down might help

nattyt

Thanks JG...i have a confession.....never really used spreadsheets!! But liking the idea as saves on paper everywhere for a start. xxx

CRANKY40

I simplified my life by placing a regular order with the local milkman. I no longer have to worry about milk for my son's breakfast, drinking etc. It just turns up. It is more expensive than Asda, but how often do you go to a supermarket and just come out with milk? Well I can't seem to do it. I reckon it's actually saving me money.